Tag Archives: learning

FROM TEACHER TO TRAINER

Effective Feedback Starts with Questions More than 240 people registered for ITI’s recent From Teacher to Trainer webinar, with over 70 teachers joining us live. The level of interest suggested that many experienced teachers are thinking about how they might … Continue reading →

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Why Teaching Presence Matters More in the Age of AI

AI can assist in teaching through content generation and feedback, but it lacks the emotional awareness that teachers possess. Teaching presence, characterized by human connection and responsiveness, fosters a safe learning environment vital for language learners. As AI evolves, educators must enhance their presence, ensuring a more human-centered approach to teaching. Continue reading →

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The Missing Skill in Teacher Education

Meta-Performative Awareness Most teacher education programmes help teachers think carefully about planning. What are the aims? What language is being taught? What problems might learners have? What instructions are needed? What interaction patterns will be used? What will the teacher … Continue reading →

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Errors Are Not Just Errors: They Are Performative Moments

Error correction is one of the most powerful performative moments in teaching In language teaching, we often talk about errors as if they are purely linguistic events. A learner uses the wrong tense. A word is mispronounced. A sentence is … Continue reading →

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Every Teacher Action Sends a Signal

Meta-Performative Awareness In the previous post, I argued that “good rapport” is not enough as a way of talking about teaching. Not because rapport is unimportant. It is extremely important. But when we say a teacher has “good rapport”, we … Continue reading →

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Good Rapport Is Not Enough

Why teacher education needs a better language for what teachers communicate. “You have a great rapport.” “Create a warmer atmosphere.” “Try to be more engaging.” “Encourage more participation.” “Don’t undermine learner confidence.” These are all important comments. The problem is … Continue reading →

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What Are Performative Skills — and Why Do Teachers Need Them?

Performative skills are essential in teaching, enabling educators to influence how learning is experienced in real time. These skills encompass voice, gesture, timing, and response, significantly affecting students’ feelings of safety and engagement. Teachers need meta-performative awareness to understand the implications of their actions, fostering a supportive learning environment. Continue reading →

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Why Teacher Education Needs a Performative Framework

How can we train teachers to respond to learners in real time? In teacher education, some of the most important aspects of teaching are often the least clearly understood. As a teacher educator, a large part of my work involves … Continue reading →

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From Performative Skills to Meta-Performative Awareness

A New Way of Thinking About Teacher Development In teacher education, we often focus on what teachers know and what teachers do. We help teachers develop knowledge of language, pedagogy, planning, assessment, and classroom management. We also help them build … Continue reading →

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Map of the Floor: When Teachers Step Into Their Story

An embodied reflection on identity, presence, and the journeys that shape how we teach. The Simple Workshop Exercise That Reveals a Teacher’s Journey In my Teaching Artistry workshops, I sometimes ask teachers to do something unusual. I tell them to … Continue reading →

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